Hokies' Trevon Hill sits out first quarter at U.Va. with hamstring injury

Steve Helber / AP

Virginia Tech receiver Hezekiah Grimsley (19), a Lafayette graduate, hauls in a pass in front of Virginia safety Brenton Nelson (28) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Charlottesville, Va.

Virginia Tech receiver Hezekiah Grimsley (19), a Lafayette graduate, hauls in a pass in front of Virginia safety Brenton Nelson (28) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Charlottesville, Va. (Steve Helber / AP)

Hill, a redshirt sophomore who graduated from Salem High in Virginia Beach, opened the second quarter on the field after sitting out all of the first quarter. He had started every game this season for No. 25 Tech before Friday.

Redshirt freshman Emmanuel Belmar started in Hill’s place, giving Tech two first-time starters at its defensive end spots. Redshirt sophomore Houshun Gaines started at the other end spot in place of Vinny Mihota, who is out after sustaining a season-ending knee injury last weekend in Tech’s 20-14 win against Pittsburgh. Gaines had two first-half tackles.

While Hill joined the action late, Tech was without starting left tackle Yosuah Nijman (leg) for a fourth consecutive game, starting wide receiver Sean Savoy, who sat out for the first time this season with an undisclosed injury and starting safety Mook Reynolds, who missed his first game of the season with what was described this week on Tech’s injury report as an illness. Tech backup defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt also missed the game with an illness.

Like Hill, Tech kicker Joey Slye wasn’t on Tech’s injury report this week, but he didn’t play at all at U.Va. He missed the game against Pitt with a hamstring injury, which also limited him two weeks ago in Virginia Tech’s 28-22 loss at Georgia Tech.

Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander was back on the field Friday after missing the Georgia Tech and Pitt games with a left hamstring injury. Running back Steven Peoples and receiver C.J. Carroll also returned after both sat out the previous six games with foot injuries. Peoples started the game.

LITTLEPAGE HONORED

Before Virginia Tech began its second drive of the game, retiring U.Va. athletic director Craig Littlepage was honored on the field with a video tribute. He announced his retirement in September, bringing his tenure as U.Va.’s AD to a conclusion after 16 years.

Carla Williams was hired in October to serve as Littlepage’s replacement. She arrives in Charlottesville after spending the last 13 years as an athletic administrator at Georgia, including a role as deputy AD since 2015.

GRIMSLEY GETS THE START

Savoy’s absence opened an opportunity for Hezekiah Grimsley, a 6-foot, 172-pound true freshman who graduated from Lafayette High, to get his first career start.

With just over 14 minutes left in the third quarter, he had two catches for 37 yards. They were his third and fourth catches of the season, accounting for 57 yards.

QUILLEN’S BLOCK

Virginia Tech safety Jovonn Quillen, a 6-foot, 187-pound sophomore graduate of Hampton High, was credited with a partially blocked punt late in the first quarter. It was a fitting accomplishment for Quillen. He was the special teams player awarded the Hokies’ coveted No. 25 jersey for the game.

It was Quillen’s second blocked punt of the season. He also had a partial block last weekend against Pitt.

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